Leigh-Anne Pinnock has backed her Celebrity Traitors co-star Myha'la after the American actress addressed unconscious racial bias within the hit BBC show.
The Little Mix singer, 35, commended her fellow contestant in an interview with Glamour magazine, praising how Myha'la articulated her thoughts and urging online abusers to back off.
Myha'la, 30, became the second person banished from the Scottish castle during the second series of Celebrity Traitors last month. Her early exit sparked debate among viewers after she acknowledged that unconscious cultural and racial biases influence how players perceive one another during the psychological competition.
Speaking to Glamour magazine, Pinnock was asked about Myha'la's reflections on unconscious bias and the recurring pattern of Black and brown contestants being voted off early in reality formats.
"She worded it so beautifully, I don't want to..." Pinnock remarked, before trailing off as she considered the reaction.
The pregnant pop star, who has documented her own encounters with racial prejudice throughout her music career, then addressed the hostile reaction directed at the American performer online.
"I know that she was getting some trolls, and racist remarks," Pinnock said. "I'm just like, leave her alone."
Glamour interview and online reaction
Pinnock's intervention comes after weeks of intense discussion among fans of the BBC series. The singer rose to international fame alongside Little Mix after winning The X Factor in 2011, establishing the group as one of the best-selling female bands in British pop history.
Throughout her career, Pinnock has spoken candidly about navigating racial bias within the music industry. Her decision to speak out in defence of Myha'la brings together two prominent cast members from the reality programme to address how race shapes social dynamics on television.
The controversy first erupted after Myha'la addressed comments left on her personal social media channels following her televised departure from the series.
Castle banishment and Richard E Grant
Myha'la, who is best known for starring as Harper Stern in the critically acclaimed BBC and HBO drama Industry, faced intense scrutiny during her brief stay in the castle.
In scenes broadcast earlier in the series, suspicions arose among the cast when Myha'la, playing as a Faithful, publicly defended Traitor Richard E Grant during roundtable discussions. However, she reversed her position at the final second, casting a sudden vote against the veteran British actor.
Before Grant left the castle, Myha'la also gave him a knowing wink. The gesture immediately caused alarm among the remaining players, who began to question her true motives.
During the tense second roundtable, Myha'la fought back tears as she attempted to defend her name and convince the group of her loyalty. Her defence proved unsuccessful, and she was voted out as the second banished contestant of the series.
Instagram exchange on show format
Following the broadcast, Myha'la posted on Instagram about her time on the programme. The post quickly drew comments from viewers, including entrepreneur Chantel Sachanna, who claimed that The Traitors is a "racist show."
Sachanna wrote in a comment: "Unfortunately you were banished because you are BLACK. This is a consistent thread in this racist show."
Myha'la responded directly with a lengthy statement, clarifying that while racial dynamics exist, her own actions in the game had provided ample reason for suspicion.
The actress admitted she might have agreed with Sachanna's critique had she not made notable tactical mistakes, explaining that "early in the game there is VERY little to grasp on to, and I gave them... a lot."
Taking personal responsibility for her elimination, Myha'la made it clear that her gameplay had played a decisive role, writing: "I sealed my own fate."
Unconscious bias and roundtable voting
While taking accountability for her tactical decisions, Myha'la also explored the deeper psychological pressures that influence contestants during high-stakes elimination rounds.
"I do agree that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game where my authenticity or honesty or the ways in which I choose to express myself look suspicious to people who are unfamiliar with people like me," she explained.
The actress revealed that she had anticipated these challenges before arriving at the castle, having observed similar voting patterns in previous seasons.
"I had this fear coming into the game, as I am a BIG fan and also clocked right away how prevalent this is in this game," Myha'la said.
She also pointed out her unique position in the British production, adding: "And I came in knowing I'd be the only American (apart from Honorary British National Treasure Jerry Hall)."
Despite her critique of systemic bias, Myha'la firmly defended her fellow celebrity contestants against accusations of deliberate malice.
"I'm not saying it's right, I'm not saying racism doesn't exist, but I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race," she wrote.
Celebrity Traitors format and BBC response
Myha'la added that calling the entire production racist failed to capture the complexity of what happened in the Scottish castle.
"That's not a fair or complete assessment of what really happened in my case," she wrote.
Instead, she urged viewers to use the moment to examine how humans respond when placed under extreme stress in social deduction games.
"And! I do think games like this should allow more conversation around unconscious bias and how, when under pressure, people (society) gravitate towards things they know and understand or subsequently push away from things they don't," Myha'la wrote. "It's all love, and I REALLY genuinely appreciate your support."
The hit format, which tests participants through intense psychological deception, regularly forces contestants to make snap judgements with minimal information. Under these conditions, psychologists note that unconscious bias can cause people to misinterpret unfamiliar cultural manners or communication styles as dishonest.
The Daily Mail contacted the BBC for comment at the time the comments were made.
